Consumer Education

Consumer competences

A competence is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to a particular situation [1] Citizens deal with their daily consumer situations by combining the knowledge, attitudes and skills they have in an integrated manner. For instance, when a person is faced with the decision on whether to invest in Satellite TV or pay utility bills online or not, it is basically the combination of the knowledge, skills and attitudes towards that action that will lead him/her to decide on what to do, how to do it and why to do it. Basing the Consumer Education teaching and learning process on competences also implies combining the knowledge, attitudes and skills of learners in an integrated manner, in the same way as it happens in real life. The COmpetence BAsed Consumer Education model (COBACE ), defines the consumer core competences (CCC) specified below for each one of the areas of content addressed in this site: Personal finance management Learners shall be able to:
G

Budget wisely in order to manage own personal finances, evaluate the consequences when making financial decisions and effectively address consumer issues Undertake individual risk assessment before making purchases and demonstrate understanding of risks, safety and consumer responsibilities.

Safe and healthy consumers Learners shall be able to:

G

Distinguish between and critically evaluate information and advertising for food/health products Understand and apply consumer knowledge to individual health management and demonstrate confident and appropriate use of consumer rights.

Responsible consumers

Learners shall be able to:

G

Reflect on and understand individual consumption patterns and analyse their effects on individual quality of life, global society and the natural environment Distinguish between differing aspects of product quality (from the producers, the traders and the consumers perspective) and actively promote sustainability through choices and advocacy.

Using services wisely Learners shall be able to:

G

Reflect on the consumers role in private and public services and demonstrate consumer responsibility towards the use and development of public services Recognise the difference between private and public services, the influence of consumers on the quality of services and service supply, and the impact of privatisation of public services on consumers lives.

Each consumer core competence has specific learning outcomes or objectives associated with it. These are the expected results to be obtained after implementing a specific Consumer Education activity. Depending on the age or the characteristics of the target group, the learning outcomes or objectives to be achieved are different. Because competences combine knowledge, attitudes and skills, it is appropriate that the learning outcomes or objectives are divided under these three headings. [1] Commission of the European Communities. (2005). Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Key Competences for Lifelong Learning (on line). http://www.ec.europa.eu/education/policies/2010/doc/keyrec_en.pdf. Accessed on 29/07/07. European Union - Reproduction of Dolceta is authorised provided the source is acknowledged http://www.dolceta.eu/malta/Mod4/Consumer-competences.html